Children of the Fountain (14 page)

“Long enough,” said Harry.

The two boys waited for a few minutes until the effects completely wore off before trying again. Although this time Matthias counted down from three and the two turned away from the flash covering their ears.

“Definitely better,” said Matthias, although the thunderous bang was still excruciatingly loud and they again felt the dizziness and confusion associated with an explosion at such close quarters.

“Let’s get back,” said Harry. “I think it’s time we took one last look at the coach.”

Harry turned and walked off and Matthias was about to join him when he thought he saw a movement out in the forest far to his right. The light was disappearing quickly as the sun set and the blackness of the trees was gradually spreading outwards. But there it was again; a flash of white, almost like a ladies dress. Darting between two trees, then on to another and another. The figure had, at first, been heading toward them but now Matthias was sure it was moving away.

He turned to shout Harry but his friend was gone. He looked back and now the figure had been joined by two other shapes; Were they shadows? Animals? Was the forest playing tricks on him?

He made after Harry; whoever or whatever was out there was of no concern to him. Undoubtedly the noise had attracted someone; but if they were members of the Guard he would already be on his way to Mr Hardy’s office by now.

He ran towards the edge of the forest and searched out Harry. “Where did you get to?” said his friend.

“I thought I saw something, someone.”

“Probably just a deer,” said Harry, still rubbing his ringing ears.

They made their way back to the castle walls where they heaved themselves up the rope Sophie made sure was dangling from the turret. She greeted them behind the kitchens with a wave as she stepped out of the shadows.

“Well?” she said.

“Successful test,” said a slightly dishevelled Harry.

The three decided to try and sleep for a few hours with a view to getting up before dawn to head down to the stables. Sophie suggested it would be best to move about the castle when most people were asleep and the boys agreed.

When Matthias and Harry quietly made their way to the mustering hall, shortly before sunrise, Sophie was already there. She and Harry had agreed to keep a lookout at the stable entrance whilst Matthias hid himself, before giving a signal when the prisoner was on his way.

They reasoned it would be hard for them to move Nunez so some sort of cover story would once again be arranged. They were not disappointed.

Matthias had been sizing up the carriage for about thirty minutes and was trying to stash his satchel somewhere inside the roof when Harry sprang around the corner.

“What?” said Matthias.

“The alarm, did you hear it? They must be bringing him here.”

He looked around and listened. The sound of bells was very faint but he could hear it none the less.

“Thanks,” he said. “You’ve done your part now. You don’t need to stay.”

Harry looked back with a face that said otherwise. “We’re here for you. We’ll stay out of sight though. This is
your
mission.”

His friend turned to exit but ran into Gerard and Evan who had just walked around the corner. Gerard sneered and shoved Harry backwards and he fell to the floor.

“There you are,” he snapped, “I knew you’d be up to no good!”

Matthias turned around from the carriage where he was preparing to hide, “What do you want Gerard?”

“Didn’t you hear the alarm? You should be in the courtyard not sneaking around. Mr Cook put us in charge of rounding up the students. I knew you were up to something in here yesterday. Get away from that carriage!”

Sophie arrived behind the boys looking perplexed. Gerard noticed her and turned on her too.

“You stupid little girl,” he said, “What are you doing with these two? Is one of them your love perhaps?”

Matthias made his way over and put himself between Gerard and Sophie.

“Go away,” he said. “This isn’t anything to do with you.”

“Oh, it’s you isn’t it? Being all brave in front of your beloved Sophie.”

Gerard shared an exaggerated laugh with Evan and then turned to look down the stables.

“Here come two of Mr Cook’s men, Matthias. Let’s see how you explain this one.”

Matthias cursed Gerard; he was going to ruin everything! Perhaps he could reason with him? Offer him something to just go away. If the soldiers thought there was anything suspicious going on they were bound to investigate. A detailed examination of the carriage and they’d doubtless find him, unless Gerard betrayed him first.

But then a movement from the corner of his eye made him look across at Sophie who had suddenly gone pale. “Those aren’t Mr Cook’s men,” she said.

“Of course they are, stupid,” said Gerard, and turned to wave at them. “They’re over here, sirs!” he shouted, pointing at Matthias.

Sophie started walking back to the carriage, “Gerard, don’t!”

Evan stepped forward now, “We found them, should we report back to Mr Cook?”

The two men’s faces were in shadow and they increased their pace as they turned into the enormous room. Matthias noted they were out of uniform, all wearing dark clothes with cloaks.

“You’re for it now, Matthias,” said Gerard, with delight in his eyes. He turned once more to look at the approaching men who were now only yards away. Evan was walking to meet them and as he did so they drew their swords.

“Gerard, get back!” roared Matthias.

“What are you doing?” said Gerard, but he would never get an answer.

It all seemed to happen so quickly for everyone else but Matthias saw it as if time was moving at a snail’s pace. The man closest to Evan stepped toward him and pulled his blade back high. Matthias again called out; but with no time to react, or even move, Evan just looked puzzled. The man struck the boy with a slashing blow across his head and he crumpled to the floor dead before he reached it. Everyone froze and watched as the men drew closer. Harry appeared from nowhere and grabbed Sophie, pulling her back to the carriage.

Matthias followed and when they reached it all three spun just in time to see the other man withdraw his sword from Gerard’s chest. The poor lad managed to look at Matthias and mouth for help as he too, fell where he stood.

The man wiped his rapier on his boot and then turned to confront the three by the coach. The other stood blocking the entrance of the chamber but made no move towards them. Now Matthias realised what was happening – these soldiers were preparing an ambush of their own. They must be Nunez’s men!

The closest looked up and as he did Matthias caught sight of short black hair and dark eyes. The man paused and looked to the other for some instruction. The taller man by the doorway, who was dark-skinned and with a shaven head, nodded and then gestured to the three friends or at least it should have been three - Harry had taken to the shadows!

Excellent
, thought Matthias, as he drew his knife; that would give them something to think about. He looked to his right and could see Sophie pull out her own knife and start to reach inside one of the pouches she had around her waist.

He spoke to her, but kept his eyes on the advancing man. “I’ll stand my ground. You get behind the carriage and do what you can.”

Sophie gazed back, her face pale. She blinked, lost in the moment, before nodding and retreating behind the coach.

The man approached Matthias and made to attack. When it came it was slow and off target. A feint, Matthias realised as he stepped back with ease – the man was seeking to judge the boy’s ability. Another swipe followed and again he stepped back. This time the man chuckled and his vile laughter echoed around the stables.

The man pressed forward again and Matthias stepped sideways this time to avoid being backed up against the carriage.
Where was Harry?

Another, more serious lunge, followed. Matthias stepped to the side and brought his knife crashing down on the foil. From his training he knew where the sweet spot was and the blade clattered away causing the man to hold his wrist in pain. Snarling, he stepped back and pulled out his own knife and then attacked again; this time reaching out with his arm as made to grab Matthias.

He held his ground and ducked the attack slipping around the man’s waist and bringing his blade upwards as he did. The edge of the knife scraped at the man’s flailing arm and he cursed. His tough leather clothing took most of the blow and he turned to face Matthias again. The man swung once more and again Matthias was too quick; but as he stepped back he found himself pressed up against the wall.

The man stood in front of him and breathed heavily. Matthias was cornered and he looked around for Harry but saw nothing. Then, suddenly, there was a voice. It was Sophie screaming, “Close your eyes!”

Neither Matthias nor the man really knew what was coming but it was Matthias who came off the least worst as the flash bomb hit the wall above them; Partly due to him facing away from the wall, and partly to at the last second remembering what Sophie had in the pouch he’d seen her reach for.

With the buzzing still in his ears he slowly regained his sight and saw the man crumpled before him. His eyes were staring blankly at the floor and his hands were over his ears.

Still groggy, Matthias rushed past him to reach the stagecoach and Sophie, but she wasn’t there. He turned and scanned around the back but again he couldn’t see her. Then his heart sank as he looked to the door and saw the other taller man with the shaved head holding a knife to her throat. He was standing in the shadow of some barrels and with his other hand he brought his finger up to his lips instructing Matthias to be silent. He nodded to a pile of boxes in the corner.

Sophie’s eyes pleaded with Matthias but it seemed they were out of options. He duly walked to the shadows of the boxes in the other corner of the room. As he got there he felt a crushing of his chest as the other man appeared from nowhere to grab him and restrain him with his knife.

“So it was you in the forest last night,” he hissed in Matthias’s ear.

The figures from the trees – it had been Nunez’s men! If he had known he could have raised the alarm – why had he not investigated? As Matthias cursed himself the man pulled him in tighter and held a knife to the base of his skull.

To the left of him he saw something move by the carriage; it was Harry, knife in hand lying underneath the coach. He caught Matthias’s eye and nodded; as Matthias shook his head in response the man pushed the knife harder against his neck. Harry clenched his fist but the two boys realised situation was hopeless.

Then, they waited. It seemed like hours but was only minutes. Voices, footsteps and then the familiar figure of Mr Cook and his guards but with a prisoner in tow. It was Balthazar Nunez. Matthias squirmed under the grip of the man holding him as he looked into the face of the murderer.

He was unshaven and his long black straggly hair was unkempt and dangling across his face. He was bloody and bruised – perhaps the work of Alonso? His body was lean and strong looking but his face gave away the evil depths of his nature.

Matthias instantly knew this was the man he had seen at the abbey. He knew this was the man he had to kill. But now he was about to get away and possibly he would lose his own life too. His shoulders sagged in the grip of the man holding him. He almost felt like asking him to get it over with.

As the soldiers entered the room it was Mr Cook who realised something was not quite right. Maybe it was the smell of the flash powder? He paused and looked around. Matthias wanted to scream out but knew it would mean quick deaths for him and Sophie.

Then Mr Cook knelt down and touched the floor. He had spotted blood on the spot where Gerard had fallen. With a sickening realisation Matthias saw that the bodies of Gerard and Evan had been moved on to the floor only a few feet away from him. The man holding Sophie must have moved the corpses in expectation of Mr Cook’s arrival.

Before Mr Cook could even draw his sword the man had stepped from the shadows with Sophie in his arms, the knife still placed against her throat. Then, it was Matthias’s turn. His captor dragged him into the dim light of the room also and there the men remained showing their ransoms to Mr Cook.

“Weapons down,” said the man holding Sophie. “Or I kill her.”

From the corner of his eye Matthias saw Nunez, held between two soldiers, dangling limply from their arms, suddenly lift his head. He sensed freedom.

Mr Cook looked around the room trying to size up the situation, one hand still on his un-drawn sword. Calculations made, he nodded slowly and then ordered his men to place their swords on the floor. Lastly he drew his foil and laid it carefully on the cobbles.

The man holding Sophie stepped forward and Matthias was dragged closer too. The two men now stood side by side facing Mr Cook and his soldiers, each holding a hostage.

“Release him,” said the man holding Sophie. Mr Cook looked at Nunez who was smiling then nodded to one of the soldiers who stepped forward with some keys to release the prisoner from his irons.

At first, Nunez fell weakly to the floor. Then he got to one knee, breathed deeply and finally stood up. He started to massage his wrists and looked at the soldiers with disdain.

“Mr Cook,” he said in a coarse whisper, “it’s been a pleasure. But regrettably I must be on my way. I believe I saw the gates had already been opened? Gentlemen.”

He started to make his way to the door and as he did so both his men shuffled sideways around Mr Cook and the soldiers; keeping their knives pressed against Matthias and Sophie’s throats.

As they reached the exit to the chamber Nunez spoke once more, this time to Matthias and Sophie.

“Thank you, children, you’ve been most kind,” He nodded to his men who released their grips on the two before throwing them to the floor. The men turned to flee as Mr Cook and his men quickly reached for their swords to chase.

Matthias could contain himself no longer and shouted, “My name is Matthias Cortés!”

Nunez looked like he’d walked into a wall and his companions only noticed after they were half way down the corridor. He turned around and faced Matthias who was now flanked by Mr Cook and his soldiers.

“Matthias?” he said, arching his eyebrows. “I have so wanted to meet you.” He licked his lips.

“That’s correct Balthazar,” said Mr Cook. “Looks like you missed your opportunity. Care to try again?” He extended his sword in front of him and the soldiers did the same, holding a tight formation around the children.

Balthazar Nunez smiled and his cold blue eyes shone through the dim light. “Not today, Mr Cook,” he said, “not today.” He turned and fled with his men whilst the others remained.

Mr Cook turned to Matthias. “Take Harry and Sophie and fetch Mr Hardy and Alonso. Tell him we’ve set out after Nunez.”

Matthias was still glaring at the dark figure shrinking into the distance and rounding the corner of the stables entrance.

“Matthias! Do as I say!” Mr Cook and his men set off, swords in hand, after Nunez.